In the lead-up to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, NBC is rolling out a two-hour Saturday Night Live special dedicated to all things athletic.
SNL Presents: Sports All-Stars will feature clips from the sketch comedy’s 35-year history, with new material from regular players Jason Sudeikis and Will Forte.
It’s likely similar to last month’s SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas, featuring Kristen Wiig, only with jock strap jokes and such.
Why Sudeikis and Forte, you ask? The two have been fronting a regular ESPN Classic sketch as moustachioed hosts Pete Twinkle and Greg Stink.
The pair comment on sports like “lady darts” and “lady bowling” with creatively frank plugs from sponsors like Summer’s Eve and Vagisil. (Choice line: “Vagisil. When dryness lingers, get some cream on those fingers. Vagisil.)
The two also share fond memories of SNL’s sports-themed sketches. “Mine has got to be, pretty hands down, the synchronized swimming sketch with Martin Short and Harry Shearer,” Forte tells press.
Says Sudeikis, “I would say I'm a big fan – we reference this actually in the show – of the ['Daily Affirmation With Stuart Smalley' sketch] with Michael Jordan.”
As for the special directly referencing the Olympics, it’s unlikely. Maybe.
“I don't believe there's anything in regards to the upcoming Winter Olympic Games because, you know, obviously since we work for NBC and they already know who wins everything there's like a compromising situation there,” jokes Sudeikis.
Amid the fallout of Conan O’Brien’s departure from NBC, in which the Peacock network retained rights to his characters, it’s also unlikely that Saturday Night Live will adopt bits like his Masturbating Bear or Triumph the Comic Insult Dog.
“It would be like trying to remake the movie The Jerk,” says Forte. “It's been done to perfection so yeah. Oh my God, I would never want to use them. They're his.”
SNL Presents: Sports All-Stars airs Sunday, Jan. 31, at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. Though Global airs Saturday Night Live in Canada, a rep for the network said Global is shelving the special and will air it sometime in the future.
Thoughts? melissa@tvguide.ca
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